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USDA announces new alfalfa foraging grant

The Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage System Program (ASAFS), a program created by the United States Department of Agriculture, is offering a grant to help producers improve alfalfa forage and seed production systems. Proposals must be submitted by June 2.
There is an estimated $3 million available, and individual grants can reach up to $900,000, with a payout of $300,000 a year for three years. If received, the producer must be able to match the grant amount with non-federal funds – including funds from an agricultural
commodity promotion, research, and information program – or in-kind support.
Proposals submitted should address at least one of the following ASAFS priorities:
- Improve alfalfa forage and seed yield through better nutrient, water and/or pest management.
- Improve persistence of alfalfa stands by lessening biotic or abiotic stresses.
- Improve alfalfa forage and seed harvesting and storage systems to optimize economic returns.
- Improve estimates of alfalfa forage quality as an animal feed to increase forage usage in animal feeds.
- Breed to address biotic and abiotic stresses that impact forage yield and persistence and the production of seed for propagation.
Individuals who have previously submitted proposals must also include a response to the previous review panel summary. The evaluation is a two-step process: a preliminary review to ensure the proposal meets the administrative requirements, and then a scientific peer-review process to evaluate proposals that have met the administrative requirements.